St. Patrick`s Day Saint Patrick`s Day is celebrated on the

St. Patrick`s Day Saint Patrick`s Day is celebrated on the

St. Patrick’s Day
Saint Patrick’s Day is celebrated on the 17th of March every
year. The celebration became official in the seventeenth century and
commemorates Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and the
arrival of Christianity in Ireland, as well as Irish culture and heritage in
general. Common symbols of the day are the colour green, shamrocks
and leprechauns, small creatures known from Irish stories and
legends.
Saint Patrick’s Day is a public holiday in the Republic of Ireland,
Northern Ireland, Newfoundland and Labrador and the island of
Montserrat, but is also celebrated in Britain, Canada, the USA,
Australia and Argentina and many other countries around the world - even in Japan!
Celebrations include parades, festivals and parties, as well as heavy eating and drinking, done
especially in Irish pubs. Many people dress in green for the occasion.
Some people also come up with more unusual ways to pay tribute to Saint Patrick and
the Irish. In 2011, the water in the fountain in front of the White House was coloured green on
the 17th of March. In Chicago, USA, the Chicago River is dyed green for the occasion - imagine
a bright green river flowing through the city centre!
Glossary
to commemorate - upamiętniać
an arrival - przybycie, dotarcie
heritage - dziedzictwo
common - powszechny, popularny
a leprechaun - krasnal (postać z irlandzkiego folkloru)
a creature – stworzenie, istota żywa
a public holiday - święto państwowe
a parade - parada
to come up with - wymyślić
to pay tribute - oddać hołd
to dye - farbować
to flow - płynąć
Quiz
1. Where is St. Patrick’s Day a public holiday?
a) Montserrat
b) Argentina
c) the USA
2. Which of these ways of celebrating is not mentioned in the text?
a) Wearing green clothes on St. Patrick’s Day.
b) Using green light on the outside of buildings on the 17th of March.
c) Making water green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
3. Which of these is Saint Patrick’s Day not connected to?
a) The Second World War
b) Christianity
c) Irish folklore
Answers: 1a, 2b, 3a